Yankees' prospect watch: Justus Sheffield making his pitch in Triple-A
Justice Sheffield pitched in the All-Star Futures game in July. Credit: Getty Images/Patrick McDermott
1. Justus Sheffield, LHP / Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The 22-year-old, ranked as the No. 3 overall lefthanded pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline, entered Saturday 5-3 with a 2.16 ERA over 15 starts since his promotion to Triple-A Scranton / Wilkes-Barre on May 6. In his last start he allowed three hits and struck out five in five scoreless innings for the RailRiders against Norfolk on Aug. 9. Sheffield, along with outfielder Clint Frazier, was acquired in the Andrew Miller trade with the Indians in July, 2016.
2. Estevan Florial, OF/Tampa Tarpons
Florial, 20, has batted .273 with an on-base percentage of .372 and has slugged .406 with three teams in 2018. In 57 games with Class A Advanced Tampa this season, he’s slashed .234/.340/.321, with one home run, 19 RBIs, 30 runs scored, and eight stolen bases on 16 attempts. Despite his 50 percent conversion rate at Tampa, Florial has stolen 61 bases on 84 total attempts since the organization signed him in 2015.
3. Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP / Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
The organization got a taste of Loaisiga’s potential after he allowed no runs, three hits and struck out six over five innings in his Major-League debut against Tampa Bay on June 15. Through four starts with the Yankees, the 23-year-old righty pitched to the tune of a 3.00 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings despite making the leap from Double-A Trenton straight to the majors. Loaisiga was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his last appearance on July 2 and was shut down due to right shoulder inflammation. According to reports, he could return to the Yankees before the end of August after a rehab assignment.
4. Albert Abreu, RHP/Tampa
Acquired after dealing Brian McCann to the Astros in November of 2016, Abreu has gone 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 52 strikeouts over 48.1 innings pitched in 10 starts with Tampa. Abreu, 22, allowed two runs over 2 2/3 innings during a rehab start in the Gulf Coast League on Aug. 6. He is 3-6 in 2018 with a 6.08 ERA.
5. Domingo Acevedo, RHP/Trenton Thunder
Acevedo, 24, has spent the entire 2018 season with Class Double-A Trenton, compiling a 2-3 record and a 3.06 ERA over 13 appearances (10 starts). He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four in a four-inning no-decision against Portland in his last start on July 28, and has not pitched since exiting the game with upper arm soreness.
